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Buxton, Sampson are Pipeline Prospects of the Week

Twins top prospect hit .500 in four games; Pirates pitcher allowed one hit, no runs

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Top Prospects: Buxton, MIN 0:42

2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Byron Buxton is a five-tool center fielder who will play all of 2014 at the age of 20

By Teddy Cahill
/
MLB.com |

Throughout the season, the MLBPipeline.com staff will name Pipeline Prospects of the Week -- one hitter and one pitcher who excelled over the previous seven days. To qualify for selection, a player must rank among their organization's Top 20 Prospects, as listed on our Prospect Watch.

Buxton, baseball's top prospect, showed this week that even though he has been hampered by injuries this season, he's still as dynamic as ever. Buxton collected 10 hits, including two home runs and a triple, in just four games. He also scored at least once in every game.

The lone downside to Buxton's week was that he was hit by a pitch in the right wrist on Friday. He stayed in the game - playing all 17 innings of a marathon extra-innings game in center field - but was out of the lineup the next two days.

Buxton has been limited by wrist injuries since Spring Training, when he sprained his left wrist diving for a ball in the outfield. He opened the season on the disabled list and didn't make his debut until May 4. Buxton's return was short-lived, however, as he reinjured his wrist sliding into second base later that week. That injury kept him out for nearly two months.

Sampson took a no-hitter into the ninth inning Friday, only to see it broken up by a one-out double. But his consolation prize of a shutout, the first of his career, wasn't so bad.

Sampson cruised through the shutout, allowing three baserunners - one hit, one walk and one error. He struck out two and threw just 98 pitches.

While Sampson doesn't have the upside of some of the Pirates' top pitching prospects, he has been solid all season for Altoona. He ranks third in the Eastern League with a 2.58 ERA and second with a 1.07 WHIP. He is 8-5 and has struck out 86 batters and walked 28 in 122 innings.